Tom Fletcher: The international community must act quickly to help rebuild Syria.

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, called on the international community to urgently invest in the reconstruction and development in Syria.

He stressed that expanding basic services will be a crucial element in facilitating the return of displaced Syrians to their country.

In a briefing he delivered during a Security Council session on Syria, Fletcher, as reported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stressed the need to intensify international efforts to support Syria’s recovery and reconstruction, noting that the country is going through a critical phase that requires a rapid and effective response.

The UN official highlighted four key points related to supporting the UN’s approach in Syria: humanitarian response, funding, civilian protection, and investment in reconstruction. He noted in this context the measures taken by the Syrian government to streamline aid procedures and cooperation with the United Nations.

Fletcher pointed out that Western sanctions and restrictions imposed on Syria are hampering the reconstruction process, believing that the international community has an opportunity to make decisive decisions to support the Syrians who deserve the opportunity to see the enormous task ahead of them and build a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive future.

Nada Haj Khidr